About This Lesson
Small moments of positive emotion can make a big difference. This Jolts of Joy & Positivity Portfolios activity bundle helps students learn what positive emotions are, recognize and express emotions, discover activities that create positive feelings, and intentionally build more moments of wellbeing into their everyday lives.
Grounded in positive psychology and the science of positive emotions, these flexible, student-friendly activities give learners practical tools they can use at school, at home, and throughout their lives. Students explore emotions including joy, love, gratitude, awe, inspiration, amusement, serenity, hope, interest, and pride and discover their own personalized ways to experience more of them.
Designed with autistic learners and diverse learning needs in mind, the activities can be completed through writing, drawing, discussion, visual supports, or other individualized communication methods.
Here’s what you’ll get:
Jolts of Joy Activities
- Introduction to Emotions & Our Brains activity
- My Emotional Brain worksheet
- Deep Dive into Positive Emotions activity
- Positive Emotions Game
- Positive/Negative Emotions Sorting Cards
- Spot Emotions in Pictures & Videos activity
- Jolts of Joy Class Poster
- Design Your Own Jolts of Joy List
- Picture Your Joy activity
- Teacher recommendations for integrating Jolts of Joy into instruction
- IEP recommendations
- Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) recommendations
Positivity Portfolio Activities
- Benefits of Positive Emotions worksheet
- Building a Positivity Portfolio activity
- Savor Your Positivity Portfolio reflection activity
- Teacher recommendations for integrating Positivity Portfolios into instruction
- IEP recommendations
- Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) recommendations
Why you’ll love this activity bundle:
- Introduces students to the science and vocabulary of positive emotions
- Helps students identify emotions and recognize how emotions affect the brain and body
- Gives students concrete strategies for intentionally creating more positive emotions
- Builds self-awareness, emotional regulation, and wellbeing skills
- Encourages students to identify their own personal sources of joy, gratitude, hope, serenity, and other positive emotions
- Creates opportunities for student choice and individualized learning
- Supports SEL, special education, autism support, and whole-class instruction
- Can be adapted for students who communicate through writing, drawing, speech, AAC, or other modalities
- Includes practical IEP and BIP recommendations
- Provides activities that can be revisited throughout the school year—not just taught once
- Helps create a classroom culture where students learn to notice, share, and cultivate positive experiences
Ways to use:
- Social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons
- Special education and autism support classrooms
- School counseling and social work
- Small-group instruction
- Morning meetings and classroom community building
- Emotional regulation lessons
- Advisory periods
- Individualized IEP goal work
- Behavioral intervention planning
- Brain breaks and mindfulness activities
- Student wellness activities
- Family/home learning
- Whole-class positive psychology lessons
What is Jolts of Joy?
Don’t wait for joy to come to you, go get more of it! Science shows that joy-inducing activities transform the way we think, perform and respond. Jolts of Joy are small, intentional actions that inject positive emotions into our day and help us take control of our wellbeing moment to moment. The overall goal is to have greater control over the ratio of positive to negative emotions you experience each day. By unleashing the power of positive emotions with intention, you and your students can jolt yourself into joy!
Science of Positive Emotions
Positive emotions create opportunities for growth and healing, mentally and physically. The Broaden and Build theory is based on the notion that positive emotions enable us to develop new and creative ways of thinking to enhance wellbeing and promote resilience. Scientific evidence finds that even little moments of joy throughout the day add up to greater physical and mental wellbeing. People who experience positive emotions think better, perform better, and feel better. Experiencing positive emotions regularly can:
- Open our eyes and minds
- Increase creative thinking
- Expand our visual field
- Allow for global thinking and diversity
- Prevent depression and anxiety
- Undoing effect
- Improve cardiac functioning
- Increase healthy sleep
Looking for more Jolts of Joy resources?
Explore the free Jolts of Joy Unit Study, which comes with teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
What is a Positivity Portfolio?
A Positivity Portfolio, inspired by Barbara Fredrickson’s book Positivity, is a mindful intervention designed to help you cultivate positivity and happiness in your daily life. It’s a curated collection of items, memories, songs, or pictures that evoke one or more of the 10 essential positive emotions—joy, love, inspiration, serenity, amusement, awe, pride, interest, gratitude, and hope.
Building and savoring your Positivity Portfolio for just 15 minutes a day can boost your wellbeing, enhance life satisfaction, and help you flourish.
Science of Positivity Portfolios:
Positivity Portfolios are an evidence-informed tool rooted in Barbara Fredrickson's Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions. Positive Emotions like joy, gratitude, and hope expand awareness, boost creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills. Over time, these emotions help build lasting mental, social, and emotional resources.
In the classroom, Positivity Portfolios foster individual growth and encourage positivity resonance—shared moments of connection and care. These shared experiences strengthen peer relationships, create a supportive classroom culture, and promote collaboration.
Positive Emotions feel good, and they are good for you! People who regularly feel positive emotions experience:
- Increased wellbeing and life satisfaction
- Increased attention, awareness, and memory
- A boost in learning, creativity, and mental flexibility
- Stronger relationships
- Less perceived stress
- Lower depressive symptoms
- Improved sleep and sleep quality
- Improved cardiovascular function
Looking for more Positivity Portfolio Resources?
Explore the free Positivity Portfolio Unit Study, which includes teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Proof Positive’s resources are and will always be free. Be well!
Bonus access to full lesson plans and unit studies on the skills of happiness at our Skill Center.
